Mercy Clinic in Shell Knob welcomes Dr. Patrick Harr

Harr, a family physician for over 40 years, and his wife Teri, a registered nurse, made the decision to leave the busy practice at the Family Practice and Sports Medicine in Maryville to retire to the slower pace of life in Shell Knob.

"I work here three days a week now," Harr said. "I love sports medicine and hope to establish a practice locally."

Harr has served as the team physician for the Missouri State wrestling tournament since 1986, as well as team physician for Maryville High School and Northwest Mis- souri State University.

"There is a different age population in Shell Knob," Harr said, "but I hope to help out and get the kids back to sports as soon as it's safely possible to do so."

As a youth, Harr and his father fished in the Shell Knob area.

"I felt it would be easier to retire here and visit home than to retire in Maryville," Harr said. "I felt I could con- tribute something to the Shell Knob community without hav- ing to work full time.

"I delivered so many children in Maryville that I was starting to deliver their children," Harr laughed, "and I knew all of the kids through their sporting activities. That was spe- cial. They're all my kids."

Harr is looking forward to catching up on reading his medical journals and the medical mysteries that he enjoys.

During his career, Harr was named to the National Af- filiations Advisory Board to the Century Council was Wash- ington, D.C.

"That's a think tank in Washington [D.C.] that encour- ages the responsible use of alcohol and addresses the prob- lem of underage drinking," Harr said. "That was a great experience, and I met a lot of people through that organiza- tion."

Harr is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and was named their delegate to the American Medical Associate from 1998 to 2009. His other accomplishments include: chairman of the student interest task force in 1998; chairman of the board from 1997 until 1998; president elect in 1996; served on the screening com- mittee and spectrum from 1994 to 1995; was named as board liaison to the commission on Legislation and Governmental Affairs in 1994; chairman of the subcommittee on strategic planning in 1993; was named board liaison to the commis- sion on Membership and Member Services in 1992; was a representative on the national vaccine advisory clinic in 1992; on the committee for professional liability from 1989 until 1991 and served as its chair in 1992; and was a delegate to the Congress of Delegates and served on the Committee on Aging from 1985 through 1987.

He served in several committees with the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians, including the aging, bylaws, continuing medical education, finance, legislation, long range planning, nominating and screening committees. He was named the board chairman n 1990.

Harr also served on the Missouri State medical Associ- ations Blue Ribbon Tort Reform committee, patient care magazine board of directors, the perinatal advisory commit- tee, the family practice funding committee and as a delegate for the northwest district and he was a member of the Mis- souri State High School Activities Association.

Harr was a Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2001; received the Distinguished Service Award from Uni- versity of Missouri in 1998; was named to the Sports Medi- cine Hall of Fame Missouri athletic Trainers Association; received the Distinguished Alumni Award from University of Missouri--Columbia in 1994; and served as the medical advisor for The American Red Cross in 1994. He has also been involved in several other civic and community organi- zations in Maryville.

"I love what I do," Harr said. "This will allow me to focus on helping build the clinic with [Dr. Daniel Sherwood and Stephanie Tatum, PA].

"My wife had a few loose ends to tie up in Maryville," Harr said. "When she gets down here, we'll be looking for adventures."